Meat tying machine



May 20, 1941. w FLETT 2,242,246

MEAT IYING MACHINE Original Filed Nbv. l, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILL/A FLE T May 20, 1941. w. FLETT MEAT TYING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 1, 1935 vzinveiziiar WILL/AM (FLETT: :9

12 Sheets-Sheet 5 W. FLETT ,Trrvewiow i MLL/AM FLETT MEAT TYING MACHINE Original Filed NOV. 1, 1935 May 20, 1941.

May 20, 1941- w. FLETT MEAT QTY-ING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 www n a w m w w n Mm NM 3 N Rm m mw May 20, 1941.

w. FI ETT MEAT TYING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 H ,iwverrzbr WILL/AM .FLgTT May 20, 1941. .w, F Tr MEAT Tum MDACHINE Original 'Filed Nov. 1, 1935 I2- Sheets-Sheet 6" fling-732m- WILL/AM FLETT twiog nc May 20, 1941. w. FLETT MEAT TYING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 ,Z'rzvezflor WILLIAM FZETT 229 Adm y 20, 1941- w. FLETT 2,242,246

MEAT TYING momma Original Filed Nov. 1, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 WILL/AM FLETT May 20, 1941. w. FLETT BEAT TYING MACHINE Original Filed Nov. 1, 193

i2 sheets-sheet 9 wim- 0767599 May 20, 1941. w, FLE'TT- 2,242,246

MEAT TYING MACHINE ori inal Filed Nov 1, 1935' 12 spas- 11591; 1O I May 20, 1941. w, FLETT 2,242,246 MEAT- TYING MACHINE Original Filed Nov; 1, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Finish of i Patented May 20, 194

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE Application 20 Claims This invention relates to tying or packaging machines and more particularly to a meat tying machine. Loose and somewhat flat pieces of meat are commonly rolled into compact form and tie these meat parcels by hand and it is the November 1, 1935, Serial No. 41,135 Renewed April 10, 1940 primary object of my invention to produce a new and substantially automatic machine for compressing and tying such parcels efiiciently, rapidly and with great economy.

My invention contemplates the use of a pinrality of cables for initially engaging the parcel therearound and compressing the same to a desired degree and, furthermore, twine holding, wrapping and tying mechanism for wrapping the compressed parcel with twine and tying the same in a manner holding it in the compressed condition. The mechanism is preferably automatic in operation, and includes various novel details, such as certain mechanism automatically tripped into operative position by the weight of the meat to be wrapped, means for automatically stopping the machine when it has completed the wrapping operation and returned to initial position, means whereby the wrapping and tying mechanism automatically adapts itself to operating only along the length of the parcel, it being understood that the parcels vary in length, novel knotting mech-' anisms, etc.

The form of my invention herein specifically disclosed embodies the use of a plurality of arms cycle. It will be appreciated that through this cycle several independent operations, such as fully enclosing the product, compressing the en- ,closed product to a predetermined degree, wrap- I ping suitable twine strands around the compressed product, joining the strand ends, and returning the parts to initial position ready for a succeeding cycle, must be performed in sequence. Another novel feature of theinvention resides in mechanism adapted, upon rotation of an element through one revolution, to perform these operations in proper'sequence, and including a novel mechanical movement'for tightening the cables to compress the product.

'Theseand other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of the drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, A

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of certain details,

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through the main driving train,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of a novel mechanical movement employed in the machine,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the machine taken on the side opposite to Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the machine,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, but showing the cable carrying arms in open position,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the twine carrying arms taken on line H-ll of Fig. 1, but showing the twine carrying arms in their lowermost positions,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of the cable holding and equalizing plates,

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11 but showing the parts in an advanced position,

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the cable holding the equalizing plates,

Fig. 15 is.a sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1, and showing the cable and twine carrying arms in further advanced positions,

Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 15, but showing the twine carrying arms at the end of their advancing movement,

Fig, 17 is a like view showing various parts in a still further advanced position,

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the knotting drawn into compressed condition by a plurality of independent and parallel cables 20 and is thereafter bound in such condition by a plural-1 ity of twine strands wrapped in parallel relation around the parcel adjacent to the cables. The entire machine is operated from a single motor 22 on the base I4, all as hereinafter described.

Cable carrying mechanism Pivoted at 24 to the outer face of each panel II and it of the frame is a pair of oppositely disposed arms 25, and two bars 28 extending substantially the length of the machine are mounted on the free ends of the arms respectively on opposite sides of the center line of the machine. Mounted on and along these bars are a series of oppositely disposed arms 2!. each arm on one bar having a corresponding and oppositely disposed arm on the other bar. -Mounted on the free end of each arm 28 is a roller 29 rotatable on an axis parallel to the bar 28 and a second roller 30 arranged right-angularly to the first roller. On and extending along the rear face of each bar 26 is ashaft 32 rotatably supported at its ends in brackets ll secured to the adapted to cooperate with two of the said cables 20. Each of such two cables is attached to a sheave 31 and extends therefrom around a corresponding roller 30, over the adjacent roller 28, downwardly through the two aligned eyes 41 of an equalizing plate 42 and from thence upwardly and over the corresponding and oppositely disposed rollers 29 and 30, and the end portion is then wound around and attached to the sheave 31 oppositely disposed from the sheave holding the other end of the cable. Each equalizing plate 42 is pivoted at its central portion to a bar 43 carrying a weight 44 on its lower end. It will be understood that the springs 40 are under. a

tension tending to wind the cables onto the sheaves 31 whereby, in conjunction with the weights 44, to keep the cables taut.

The arms 25 are normally in the position of Fig. 2 in which position the cables 30 are held in laterally spaced and open parallel relation to provide a cradle for receiving the product to be compressed and tied into a parcel. This operation requires a substantial pivoting of the arms 25 upwardly and inwardly to the position of Figs. 15 and 16. Such movement of each arm 25 is eflected by a cam 48, and a novel compound toggle linkage system is provided to multiply the movement of the arm relative to the radial throw ofthecamwherebytogivethearmstbeneeessary movement and hold them firmly in position at the end of such movement. This linkage system comprisu a lever 41 pivoted to the frame at 48 and extending outwardly therefrom. A link 4| pivoted to the arm 2| has its lower end pivoted to the inner add a link ll. 'Ibvo links H and II respectively connect the free end of the lever 41 with the intermediate portion of the link I. and the free end of the link I. with an intermediate portion of the lever 41, the link l2 being longer than the link II. A link '4 pivoted to the frame at II has its free end pivoted to an intermediate portion of the link II. A roller ll carried by the lever 41 rests on the periphery of the cam 48. The arrangement is such that. upon rotation of the cam, the lever 41 is raised to the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 15 wherein the cables have been wrapped about the greater portion of the product l1 and the links 40, II and 44 have been brought into straight alignment. Thus the relatively small throw given to the levers 41 has been multiplied sumciently to move the arms 25 to their-uppermost positions and the toggles formed by the links 40, II and I4 have straightened out to provide a firm support for holding the arms 25 in said positions. Two inwardly extending and segmental plates 5| substantially the length of and extending along the bars 26 arecarried on the free ends of the arms 28 and serve in the extreme forward position of such arms to engage the product between the arms and thereby bridge the gap thereof not engaged by the cables 20. The inner portions of these plates are deflected downwardly whereby to provide operating space for the knotting mechanism. The cams 4! are rotated from the motor 22, as hereinafter described, and springs 59 may be provided for assisting in drawing the levers 4'l downwardly.

Twine carrying and wrapping mechanism of pinions 82 having hub portions carrying a pair of arms 63. The pinions are adapted to be rotated in opposite directions by a pair of racks 6'! engaging the pinions respectively on opposite sides thereof, the racks being connected to the free ends of a pair of levers 64 pivoted to the frame at 65. Rollers 68 on the levers rest on cams 88 which cams serve to reciprocate the racks and rotate the pinions in opposite directions.

Two bars It, respectively at opposite sides of the center line of the machine and extending substantially the length of the machine, have brackets III on the ends thereof pivotally connected to the free ends of the arms 83 at I2. Also mounted on the inner face of each frame panel l5 and it are two members 13 having cam tracks 14 and II respectively. Rollers I! carried on the ends of the bars ll ride in and are guided by these tracks. Fingers II and II carried respectively by the bars extend inwardly toward each other (Figs. 9 and 10). Along one side of the machine are mounted a plurality of twine cones II and the fingers 10 are adapted to receive and guide the twine strands TI therefrom, each finger ll being provided with eyes ll, l2, l3 and U4 for this purpose. Each twine strand extends from the cone through the eyes ll, 82, and 82, and from thence downwardly and in reverse direction through the eye 84, the free end portion of each strand hanging freely beyond the eye 84.

The free end of each finger I9 is bifurcated and the upper furcation thereof has pivotally mounted thereon a twine clamping lever 95 cooperating with the end of the finger whereby to provide clamping jaws (Fig. 10)\ for the free end of the twine. the lever in a direction closing the movable, jaw onto the finger end. The long arms of the levers 85 project beyond the edge of their fingers in position to engage cam elements 99 (Figs. 12 and 13) and open the jaws as the fingers I9 return to their initial position (Fig. 9). The elements 99 are pivotally mounted on the T-bar I8 and are normally held in the upward position by springs 9|. When the arms 63 are brought back to their initial position, the free end of each finger I9 passes directly over the corresponding finger I9 and drags the loose end of its twine into the open jaws thereof.

Disposed between adjacent pairs of fingers I8 and 19 are plates 92 each pivoted at 93 to a bracket 94 on the T-bar I8, a spring 95 normally holding each plate upwardly to the position illustratedin Fig. 9. When a product to be tied is placed in the cradle formed by the cables 29, it depresses the plates 92 upon which it rests. Each of such plates carries a pivoted hook 96 (Fig. 3) normally held in retracted position by a spring 98 but adapted to be pivoted forwardly by a cam 99 on the T-bar I8 when the plate 92 is depressed. Upon such downward movement in its forward position, the hook passes closely adjacent to the free end of the finger I9 and serves to push any possibly curved or displaced end of twine into position between the said open jaws. Adjacent to the end of their downward movement, the plates 92 engage pins 9I' on the elements 99 and depress the elements to a position freeing the levers 85 which thereupon snap closed upon the twine ends (Fig. 12).

The cams 69 are arranged first to give the fingers I8 a slight movement from the position of Fig. 9 to that of Fig. 13 and thereafter to move the fingers I9. As the arms 63 carrying the fingers I9 move upwardly, (Fig. 13) the cam track I so guides the bar 69 that the fingers I9 pass closely around the cables 29 which have been wrapped around the product IT to be tied, thereby wrapping the free end portion of the twine around a substantia1 portion of the product. Thereafter, the other arms 63 are also A spring 88 normally pivots same time to have a lateral movement due to a plurality of angularly arranged slots I93 through which extend holding studs I95 threaded into the brackets I9I. On the forward edge of the plate are mounted a plurality of U-shaped elements I9I the bottom end of each of which provides a fixed twine holding jaw I99. Cooperating with each such jaw is a movable jaw III mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft I I3 to the top end of which is fixed an arm 1I I5, the shaft being rotatably mounted within the element I9I. Springs III connected to thearms H5 normally hold the movable jaw closed'onto the fixed jaw. It will be understood that there is one pair of jaws I99-III for each pair of fingers I8-I9.

In their initial position (Fig. 9), the fingers I8 and I9 are located one above the other in a moved upwardly and the cam track I4 guides the fingers I8 around the opposite side of the product closely adjacent to the cables 29 (Fig. 15). When the arms have reached the position of Fig. 16 thetwine strands have been wrapped entirely around the product, it being noted that a twine strand is provided between each pair of cables 29 (Fig. 1). It will also be noted that the jaws 86 close only on those twine ends over which the product extends and therefore the twine strands are wrapped only about that portion of the cradle containing the product. It will also be understood that the friction of the twine within the eyes 8I94 is suflicient to cause the twine to wrapped closely onto the product.

Knot tying mechanism vertical plane. At the extremity of their forward movement (Fig. 16), the fingers I8 and I9 are located in relatively lateral and overlapping positions horizontally. This latter position is accomplished by cam surfaces H9 and I2I on the inner faces of the members I3 which surfaces crowd the fingers I8 laterally as the fingers approach their uppermost position. As each finger I9 passes the cooperating finger I9 (Fig. 16), the twine held by the former forms a loop beyond the twine end held vertically by the bifurcated finger I9. At this time the plate I99 is pushed forwardly by a bell crank I23, connecting link I25 and other mechanism hereinafter described, whereupon the closed jaws I99- I I I are pushed through the said twine loops provided by fingers I8 (Fig. 16).

A shaft I2I mounted in brackets on the plate I99 carries a plurality of cam lugs I29 thereon respectively cooperating with-the arms I I5. The shaft is operated by mechanismhereinafter described and including a crank I3 I through which slidably extends a square shaft I33. A member I35 and universal joints at its ends connects the shaft I33 to the shaft I21 (Fig. 8), these connections permitting lateral movement of the shaft I2I. After the jaws have passed through the twine loops the shaft I2I is rotated sufficiently to open the movable jaws III as shown in Fig. 18. The fingers I8 thereupon retreat to the position of Fig. 1'7, thus forming twine loops I5I about the jaws I99-III. Each jaw III may be provided with a shoulder I2 for preventing the slipping of the loop therefrom.

A plurality of shafts I31, cooperating respectively with the fingers I8-I9, are supported at their inner and outer ends by brackets I39 and MI respectively mounted on the plate 58 and bar 26. A toothed rack I43, reciprocated by mechanism hereinafter described, is in mesh with pinions I45 on the outer ends of these shafts whereby to rotate the shafts. 0n the inner end of each shaft I3I is fixed a twine carrying member I41 having a V-notch I49 in its forward face.

When the arms 29 and the fingers I9 are in their extreme forward positions (Fig. 1'7) each V- notch I49 is in alignment with the free end portion of the twine held by the corresponding jaws 86. Thefingers I8 having retreated to the position of Fig. 17, the members I4I are rotated to engage the twine ends in the V-notches I49,

pull such ends out of the jaws 89 and carry them around the loops I5I and into the jaws I99-I II (Fig. 20). The shaft I2I thereupon immediately functions to release the jaws III which snap closed onto the twine ends. The plate I99 is then drawn ba'ckwardly to its initial position,

whereby drawing the Jaws I03-III and the twine ends through loops I5I and forming the knots (Fig. 21).

Each attached end of twine is cut 01! by the following mechanism. A plate I53 carried on the arms 23 beneath the plate I has a limited sliding movement longitudinally allowed by recesses I55 therein fitting over lugs I51 on the arms, the recesses being somewhat longer than the lugs. Depending from the plate I53 are a plurality of elements I53 having their lower ends hookshaped and providing knife edges I6 I. Cooperating with each such edge is a plate I63 (Figs. 10, 16, 19 and 21) fixed to the plate 53. The plate I53 is reciprocated by the plate I00 as follows. A pin I35 carried by the plate I00 extends into a recess I61 within the plate I63 (Fig. 8), the extent of the recess I61 longitudinally of the plate being slightly shorter than the longitudinal stroke of the plate I00. Thus, upon forward movement of the plate I00, the pin engages one edge of the recess I61 and shifts the plate I63 forwardly, whereby moving the elements I53 to the position of Fig. 19 and providing a gap between the two knife edges into which the twine engages under tension of the finger 13. Upon rearward movement of the plate I00 the pin I65 engages the other end wall of the recess I61 and moves the elements I53 to the position of Fig. 21, thus severing the twine.

Power mechanism All the above described mechanisms are operated from the motor 22. A worm I33 on the motor shaft engages and drives a worm gear "I loose on a shaft I13 supported at its ends in brackets I10 depending from the panels I5 and I6. A clutch element I splined to the shaft I13 is adapted to cooperate with clutch teeth on. the gear IN to drive the shaft. A forked arm I11 of a bell crank pivoted at I13 engages the clutch element and the other arm thereof provides a foot pedal I3I, a spring I32 acting normally to hold the bell crank and clutch element in the disengaged position shown in Fig. 1. The clutch may be closed by depressing the pedal I3I which is thereupon held in the closed position of the engagement by a shoulder I 33 therewith, this shoulder being on the lower end of a lever I35 pivoted at I31. The upper end I33 of the lever is in the path of movement of a pin I3I on one of the cams 46, the purpose of the pin being to automatically trip the lever and stop the machine, as hereinafter described.

A pinion I33 on the shaft I13 is in mesh with a gear I35 fixed to a pinion I31. The pinion I31 is in mesh with a gear I33 on a shaft 200. Shafts 200, 202, and two shafts 204 extend throughout the length of the machine and are mounted at their ends in the frame panels I5 and I6. The shaft 202 is driven from the shaft 200 by gears 206 and 203 respectively on shafts 200 and 202 and interconnected by two idlers 2I0. The two shafts 204 are driven from shafts 233 and 202 by sprocket chains 2i 2 engaging sprocket wheels 2 on such shafts. The connections are such that the shafts 200, 202 and 234 are rotated at the same speed and rotate through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine.

The cams 43 which operate the compound linkage system to move the arms 25, as heretofore described, are mounted on the shafts 234, one such cam being mounted on each end of each of such shafts. The cams 63 which operate the levers 34 and racks 61 to move the arms 33 are mounted on the shafts 200 and 232. The bell crank I23 and link I23 which operate the piste I33 (Fig. 3) are driven from a cum 2" on the shaft 232 as follows. A link 2" (Fig. 2) con-' nects the other arm of-the bell crank with the free end of the lever 223 pivoted at 222. A universal joint 224 is provided at the upper end of the link 2" for permitting movement of the bell crank I23 with the arm 25 relative to the link. The lever carries a roller 223 which rides on the cam 2I6, the roller engaging against the cam when the arms 25 are in their uppermost position. The crank I3I and shaft I 21 are driven from a earn 223 on the shaft 202 as follows. A link 233 (Fig. 2) connects the crank with the free end of a lever 232 pivoted at 222, the lever carrying a roller 234 engaging against the cam. Springs 236 and 233 are provided for normally moving the links 2I3 and 233 upwardly.

The rack I43 which rotates the knotting shafts I 31 is reciprocated by the following mechanism. A link 240 connected to the rack at 242 (Fig. '1) has its outer end connected to one arm of a bell crank 244 pivoted at 243. The other arm of the bell crank is connected to the upper end of a link 243 through a universal joint 253. The lower end of the link 243 is connected to the free end of the lever 252 pivoted at 254. A roller 255 on the lever 252 rides in the cam path 253 of a face cam 253 which cam path is adapted to reciprocate the rack in both directions through the said conneotions.

The cable tightening shafts 32 are rotated from I the shaft 233 through novel mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 22. An interrupted gear 233 and a gear sector 232 fixed to the shaft 233 are adaptul respectively to cooperate with an interrupted pinion 234 and a pinion 233 on a shaft 233, the pinions 234 and 233 being on opposite sides of and rigidly connected to a pinion 213. The pinion 213 is in mesh with a gear 212 in mesh with a second gear 214. The gears 212 and 214 are respectively in mesh with two pinions 213 respectively on opposite sides of the center line of the machine. The pinions 213 are fixed respectively to two sprockets 213 connected by chains 233 to sprockets 232 on the ends of the shafts 32.

The interrupted gear 233 and gear sector 232 rotate through one revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine and during such time the gear 233 rotates the shafts 32 first in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 4) to wind up the cables 23, and thereafter the sector 232 rotates such shafts in the reverse direction to bring them back to their initial position, all in synchronism with the other operations of the cycle. The parts are shown in the initial and idle position, in Fig. 22. Rotation of the elements 233 and 232 through the distance a has no effect upon the shafts 32. Rotation thereof through the distance b however rotates the shafts 32 in the direction of the Irrows (Fig. 4) through the engagement of the gear teeth 234 with the teeth of the interrupted pinion 234. Adjacent to the end of such movement a large tooth 333 on the pinion 334 passes through a cooperating recess 233 in the gear 233 and-thereafter rests on the peripheral portion 233 of the gear 233 during continued rotation of the latter, thus holding the pinion 234 against reverse rotation. The shafts 32 are thereby held in their wound-up position until the gear teeth 232 on the sector 232 reach the pinion 233 whereupon the sector serves to rotate the pinion 233 and shafts 32 back to their initial position, the gear 230 being cut away at 234 toprovide clearance for the tooth 288. The parts thereafter stop in the initial position shown in Fig. 22.

Cycle 61 operations (FM. 23)

The machine is shown in its initial position in Figs. 2, 9 and 22. The arms 25 are in their outermost position whereby holding the cables 28 stretched out to provide a cradle for receiving the product to be tied, the clutch I15 is in the open position, and the loose end of each twine strand 'I'I has been dragged by the fingers I8 into the corresponding open jaws on the fingers 18 (Fig. 10). The operator places the product, such as a piece of meat I1, within the cradle wherein it depresses the plates 92 which it engages and causes the corresponding jaws 88 to close upon the free ends of the twine strands TI. The operator then depresses the foot pedal III! which closes the clutch I15 whereupon the shaft I13 and connected parts start rotating, the shoulder I88 of the lever I85 thereupon engaging and holding the pedal depressed. The cycle of operations, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 23 follows.

Rotation of the cams 46 immediately operates to pivot the arms 25 upwardly and wrap the cables 28 about the product, this movement continuing to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the product is entirely surrounded by the cables supplemented by the plates 58. After the cams 46 have rotated through approximately 10 degrees, the teeth 284 of the interrupted gear 288 engage the teeth of the interrupted pinion 284 and cause rotation of the shafts 32 in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 4), thereby winding up the cables 20 whereupon they compress the product into a compact body. It will be apparent that the springs 40 provide a resilientconnection between the cables and the shafts 32 whereby to bring the cable substantially to a predetermined tension and allow for products of varying diameters, and it wfll also be noted that the cables continue to tighten for a considerable time after the product has been completely surrounded by the cables and plates 58. I

After the shaft 208 has rotated through approximately forty degrees, the cams 68 begin raising the levers 64 to move the twine carrying fingers I8 and I9 outwardly and upwardly about the product. The cams are so constructed, however, that the fingers I8 are first moved backwardly (Fig. 11) to the position of Fig. 13 sufiiciently to permit clearance for the fingers 18. The fingers I9 are then moved upwardly as indicated in Fig. 13 to give the free end portion of the twine a preliminary wrap about one side of the product. Both fingers I8 and 19 are thereafter moved to the position of Fig. 16, thus wrapping the twine entirely around the product, the cam surfaces H9 and I2I crowding the fingers I8 laterally of the fingers I9 as they approach their uppermost and overlapping relation.

With the parts in the position of Fig. 16, the cables 28 have been drawn tightly around the product I! and the twine strands 'I'I have been wrapped therearound. The cam 2I6 now functions to shift the plate I88 forwardly (Fig. 8) whereby pushing the jaws Illa-I II through the twine loops II provided by the fingers I8 (Fig. 16) and the fingers 18 then retreat to the position of Fig. 18. The cam 228 thereupon operates through link 230 and connected parts to open the movable jaws III to the position of Fig. 18. The face cam 258'then functions through the link 248 and rack I43 to rotate the shafts I81 and members I41 from the position of Fig. 18 to the position of Fig. 20, thus carrying the free end g of the twine around the loop I8I and intotlib jaws III8-III. The cam 228 thereupon operates to close the jaws III upon the twine and directly thereafter the cam 2I8 functions to,withdraw the plate I88 and the jaws IOl-I II therewith, thus drawing the free end of the twine through the loop lil, as shown in Fig. 21, and thereby completing the knot. The cam 228 thereafter opens the jaws I l I to release the twine and the elements I88 act to cut oil! the twine upon rearward movement of the plate I00, as heretofore described.v

Following the above described operations, the parts are returned to their initial positions as. follows: The cam 228 closes the jaws III. The arms 28 move to the open positionof Fig. 2. fi'he sector 282 engages the pinion 286 and rotates theshafts 32 back to their initial position; thus unwinding the cables. The fingers 'I8 and 18 return to initial position, the fingers 18 first coming to the position of Fig. 9 wherein the cams 88 open the twine-gripping Jaws 86, and the fingers 18 thereafter passing vertically over the jaws 86 and dragging the twine ends thereinto. 1 At the end of the cycle, the pin I9I trips the lever I whereupon the clutch I15 moves to the disengaged position and the machine stops.

My invention is primarily a meat tying mm chine and, while]; have for convenience throughout the specification and claims referred thereto as a meat tying machine, it will b egiinderstood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the particular product operated upon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means for tightening the cables into compressing engagement, with the parcel, means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel and joining the twine ends while the cables" hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable :rapping and tightenin operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

2. The machine defined in claim 1 plus means for returning the cable and twine wrapping means to initial position and stopping-the same in such position.

3. The machine defined in claim ,1. whereiirthe second named meansengagesthe T cables from both ends'thereof.

4. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of independent cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means for tightening the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel, means for wrapping a plurality of independent twine strands tightly around the compressed parcel respectively adjacent to the cables and joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable wrapping and tightening operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

5. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation to provide a cradle for receiving a parcel, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in the cradle and tightening the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel, means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel and joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causi'lg the cable wrapping and tightening operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

6. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation to provide a cradle for receiving a parcel, means for wrapping the cables from intermediate points thereof in both directions around a parcel placed in the cradle and tightening the cables from both ends thereof into compressing engagement with the parcel, means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel and joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable wrapping and tightening operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

7. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, a

plurality of arms in laterally spaced relation respectively cooperating with the cables, means for moving the arms to carry the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means for tightening the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel, means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel and joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable wrapping and tightening operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

8. The machine defined in claim 7 wherein said arms are mounted for pivotal movement and cooperate with the cables at points remote from the pivotal points of such movement.

9. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation to provide a cradle for receiving a parcel, a plurality of pairs of arms, the two arms of each said pair engaging a cable respectively on opposite sides of the cradle, means for moving the arms to carry the cables from intermediate points thereof in both directions around a parcel placed in the cradle, means for tightening the cables to compress the parcel, cooperating means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel and joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable wrapping and tightening operations and the twine wrapping and joining operations to function synchronously.

10. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means for tightening the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel, means including a plurality of fingers carrying independent twine strands and movable to wrap said strands around the compressed parcel, means for joining the ends of the strands, and power driven mechanism connected to and operating the cable wrapping and tightening means and the twine wrapping and joining means.

11. The machine defined in claim 10 including a plurality of pairs of said fingers, the two fingers of each pair being adapted to engage one of said strands respectively at its end'and at a point remote therefrom, and means'for moving the two fingersof each pair respectively in opposite directions to wrap the strands around the compressed parcel. i

12. The machine defined in claim 10 including a plurality of pairs of said fingers, a movable twine holding jaw on the end of one finger of each said pair, means for opening said movable Jaws when the fingers carrying the Jaws return to initial position, means for causing the other fingers to drag the twine ends into said jaws respectively, means thereafter causing said jaws to close onto the twine ends, and means for moving the two fingers of each pair respectively in opposite directions from said initial position to wrap the strands around the compressed parcel.

13. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means holding one end of each cable and resiliently resisting pull on the cables, means carrying the other ends of the cables, and power driven means cooperating with the last named means and arranged to tighten the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel.

14. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, a plurality of pairs of arms pivoted at their lower ends, drums carrying the two ends of each cable respectively on the free ends of a pair of said arms and resiliently resisting pull on the cables, means for pivoting the arms in directions wrapping the cables around a parcel placed over the cables, and means for rotating the drums in cable tightening directions when the cables are thus wrapped around the parcel.

15. A meat tying machine comprising a plurality of cables arranged in laterally spaced relation, means for wrapping the cables around a parcel placed in wrapping position adjacent to the cables, means for tightening the cables into compressing engagement with the parcel, means for wrapping twine around the compressed parcel, cooperating means carried by the first named means for joining the twine ends while the cables hold the parcel in compressed condition, and means for causing the cable wrapping and tightening and the twine wrapping and binding operations to function synchronously.

16. The machine defined in claim 15 wherein said cooperating means includes a plurality of pairs of jaws carried in alignment on a plate carried by said first named means.

17. In a meat tying machine, means for compressing a parcel, means carrying independent twine strands located in spaced relation along the first named means, and means for causing such oi the second named means as are located along the parcel to wrap and tie twine strands around the parcel in compressed condition and automatically eliminate the wrapping thereonto of twine by such of the second named means as is located beyond the ends of the parcel.

18. In a meat tying machine, means for compressing a parcel, means carrying independent twine strands located in spaced relation along the first named means, jaws for gripping said twine strands, means actuated by the weight oi a parcel placed within the compressing means to cause only such jaws as are located along the parcel to grip the twine strands, and means for causing the second named means to wrap and tie the gripped twine strands around the parcel in compressed condition.

19. In a meat tying machine, compressing means providing a cradle, twine carrying means including a plurality of open jaws arranged in spaced relation along the cradle, means tripped by the weight of a parcel in the cradle for causing the corresponding jaws to close on the twine strands therein, means operating the compressing means to compress the parcel, and means operating in conjunction therewith for causing the gripped twine strands to be wrapped and tied around the compressed parcel.

20. In a meat tying machine, compressing means providing a cradle, means for carrying a plurality of strands of twine arranged in spaced relation along the cradle, means operating the 

